The Blanket - Work in Progress!

When I first learnt to crochet I started making a Granny Square blanket.
I started using Rico Creative cotton and a size 5 Hook.
I am pretty much using every colour that they offer in this yarn!

Initially, I didn't know what path I wanted the blanket to lead, I just knew that I wanted it to be bright, cheery and colourful.  It also needed to be huge as it needs to cover our kingside bed, with plenty of overhang (Idon't like it when crochet blankets just sit on top of a bed)

I started by planning to just keep on getting bigger and bigger from the first granny square, but as time went on and I got more confident I thought I'd make lots of different sized Granny Squares and stitch them together at the end.

I statred by replicating the initial granny quare in size but with the colours in the reverse order.  But then after I'd finished the first two large squares in this way I thought the colour order looks terrible side by side - so they will probably be seperated now.

I'm using white as the outer border on each square to tie each square together and also make it easier to sew up at the end.

It's such a beautiful yarn, as it's cotton its really soft and heavy, perfect for a snuggly blanket.  I think that at £1.99 for 50g it's reasonable too.  It's roughly double the price of a scratchy cheap acrylic ( not to my taste!) so although it's not the cheapest its worlds apart.

I've really picked up momentum now on this blanket, and I'm determined to get it finished by Christmas!

Here's Gabe with one of the squares!

A Hooky Present

My lovely friend Nat is due her second little boy in three weeks time.
Her colour theme for the nursery ( well, clothes storage room really , as she co-sleeps!) is teal and grey.
I was in a real quandry as to what to make this bundle of joy.  A ripple blanket in grey and teal?  Well I bought the yarn, started the intial chain and decided it just wasn't quite right.
A cot mobile? no, he will never be in there anyway!
A hat and booties for when baby is in the sling? erm, not sure.
Baby leg warmers for when he's slung? - still might do!

Here is what I went with in the end:-

Excuse the awful hanging space for the photo!  We are decked with multiple Halloween bunting and decs at the moment so I couldn't hang them on the fireplace!



I'm hoping it'll look lovely with her nursey and that she loves them.  I certainly do :-)

This is her nursery wall art so I'm hopeful they'll go great:-

So now this little project is finished , onto the next things that have been burning a hole in my creative pocket:-
*  knitting a scarf for Gaz
*  Crocheting wrist warmers for myself :-
*   Finishing the forever blanket?

Creative Times!

Since I last wrote ( hooow long ago?!) I have finally learnt to crochet!

I think I shall chart what I have made so far on here as a crochet diary for future!
I have pretty much put knitting on the back burner as I just get more enjoyment out of crocheting.
What bugs me about knitting is that if I make a mistake I have no idea how to remedy it, at least with crochet you can unravel at will and start again!
I think the main thing that I alway wanted to learn to crochet for is a tea cosy.  I finally made one last week:-

I got the pattern from here:-

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/article-2219040/Lifestyle-Gran-Designs.html

and it only took a couple of hours.  I used Rico Creatice cotton and a 5 hook.
In hindsight it is too big for our Burleigh teapot, I think I am going to make another smaller one or tighten this one, I'm not sure yet.
I have been looking for a simple pattern for ages so was chuffed to find this, and more importantly it works.  It really keeps the tea lovely and hot ( so they are used for a reason ;-)

Well, We had THE conversation...

Well, Gabe and I had THE conversation yesterday...

No , not the birds and the bees one, we had the 'GOD' conversation.

Gabe and I were baking a Valentines cake for daddy whilst Kitty was asleep ( only 3 days late for Valentines day but hey ho!) and Gabe asked if we can make pancakes soon.

"funny you should say that Gabe, it's Pancake Day next week"
"why" - not an uncommon question in this house!
"erm, because if you believe in God, and you are a Christian, you believe that you eat all the sugar, and naughty things up ready to be good for lent"
"do you and Daddy believe in God?"
"we don't, but you can if you want to babe"
"erm, ok"
looooong pause
"yes, I have decided I will have a religion, I will be odd!!!!"

Excellent Gabe, you truly are embracing this family's religious views!!!